What’s Going To Happen

After beating Ohio in a 37-34 thriller, the Zips improbably took control of the East race and will go off to play for the MAC title with a win over lowly Kent State.

A Zip win, or an Ohio loss to Buffalo, will do it.

But Kent State is overdue for something positive in a lost season. Outside of a win over Miami University, it’s been a nightmare of a time in blowout loss after blowout loss.

The Golden Flashes have lost four straight, and with all nine losses by double-digits. But screwing up the Zips would make the year.

So how is this happening? What is Akron doing right? It’s converting more third down plays than anyone in the MAC, it’s not turning the ball over, and it’s able to come up with just enough late stops to survive.

Kent State’s defense is fine on third downs, but that’s about it. It can’t move the ball, and there’s no passing game to keep up if the Zips score early.

Akron will be a +3 in turnover margin, it’ll convert on the mistakes, and it’ll let the defense hold time and again on the way to the MAC title game.